66 
ON FURNISHING THE PARTERRE WITH FLOWERS IN 
EARLY SPRING. 
To a considerable extent we have already endeavoured to direct attention to the 
uninteresting nature, in the winter and early spring, of that portion of the pleasure- 
ground more especially devoted to a display of flowers, when no endeavour is made 
to divest it of a part of that uniformly barren aspect and cheerless appearance 
that is, in general, its distinguishing feature. It is the more conspicuously so with 
the Parterre, because in other parts of the grounds evergreens, either as isolated 
specimens, or masses, exist, and become as pleasing and appropriate in the winter 
season as their effect has been delightful and refreshing in summer. 
The long season of remarkable and enjoyable weather that has so wonderfully 
characterised the early spring portion of this year, will have been more effectual in 
bringing under notice the blemish of which we complain, than the most extensive and 
elaborate reference to it, and the circumstances under which it exists. We have, 
however, independent of this fact, in previous pages, pointed to the worst features of 
the evil, and the instances in which it is most desirable to accomplish its removal. 
What we have already recommended to produce a feeling of cheerfulness, and to 
detract from the monotony of the flower-garden in the winter and spring, is filling the 
beds and borders partially or wholly with common dwarf-growing evergreens, &c, with 
a slight allusion to the appropriateness of some herbaceous plants, bulbs, &c. See 
" Winter Gardens," Vol. xi. In addition, for a similar purpose, in the same volume, we 
brought forward " Pansies as Flower-garden Plants." What we now purpose imme- 
diately directing attention to has already been mentioned ; bulbous, and some early- 
flowering herbaceous plants, the value of which, for the purpose in question, and 
their great beauty, has this season, in a very forcible manner, arrested our attention. 
Doubtless, this year they have been unusually fine, so altogether favourable and 
highly propitious has the weather we have experienced been for the perfect develop- 
lopment of their flowers. 
It is not our intention to recommend that bulbous and other plants be employed 
wholly to supersede evergreen shrubs, and those already mentioned : the recommend- 
ation on their behalf extends to their being used in conjunction with them. First, 
as most important, Crocuses are exceedingly well adapted, and are really beautiful 
when judiciously disposed, and, as flowering in early spring, are invaluable. In 
themselves, in point of colour, they are a complete host, every shade, between dark 
purple and delicate white, Crocuses can boast, and, in addition, as is well known, 
fine yellow and gold-colour. 
Flowers displaying themselves in winter and early spring, under any circum- 
stances, are doubly effective, compared with what they are in summer ; this is espe- 
cially the case in the open ground, and must always be borne in mind, when 
